Infants through toddler-age children and their parents are invited to the Dragon Carpet for a morning of fun with stories, songs and a craft.

Fit Fest

Time: Noon – 3 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, May 15

Place: Kishwaukee FAmily YMCA

More information: 815-756-9577

Businesses are encouraged to get as many employees as possible to walk a mile in Fit Fest. The walk will be held outside if weather permits or inside if it rains. Participants will be entered into a raffle.

Gallery Talk

Time: 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, May 15

Place: NIU Art Museum Rotunda Gallery

OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE exhibition curators Heather Green and Peter Olson will talk about the art work on display and putting the show together.

Free Community Meal

Time: 5 – 7 p.m.

Date: Every Wednesday; next, May 15

Place: Feed'em Soup, 122 S. First St.

More information: www.feedemsoup.org

For transportation, call 815-293-7433. May 15 menu is Asian chicken risotto. Diners pay what they can; those who cannot pay can eat for free.

No entry fee. Winners will be selected by the audience of the Switchback concert at the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and trophies will be awarded on the Egyptian stage after the concert. Concert tickets are $19 to $23 and can be purchased at www.egyptiantheatre.org.

Switchback

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, May 18

Place: The Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

Tickets: $19 – $23

More information: www.egyptiantheatre.org

Children 3 and younger are admitted free, but must have a ticket from the box office. This concert is part of the Lincoln Highway Centennial Birthday Bash, and will include a performance by Irish dancers and narrative on the history of the highway and its Irish connection.

Jazz Pentecost Service

Time: 9 and 11 a.m.

Date: Sunday, May 19

Place: First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St.

More information: 815-756-6301 or www.firstumc.net

A Wing and A Prayer Dixieland orchestra will perform New Orleans jazz as part of the church's Pentecost service.

Visitors to the homestead have one chance all year to see the inside of the historic barn where Joseph Glidden invented the first practical barbed wire. Tours of the house and barn; the gift shop and blacksmith shop will also be open and operating.

Ross Powell, the co-leader of the National Science Foundation-supported WISSARD project, which uses a hot water drill to explore the environment beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, will speak at this casual event.

Preventing Identity Theft

Times: 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Places: First presentation at First State Bank, 155 N. Third St.; second presentation at Kishwaukee United Way, 115 N. First St.

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Basics of Budgeting

Time: Noon

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: Family Service Agency, 14 Health Services Drive

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

What Happens When You Turn 65

Time: 2 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: Kishwaukee United Way, 115 N. First St.

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Credit Card Education

Time: 6 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: Goodwill, 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Summer Kick-Off

Time: 5 p.m.

Date: Friday, May 24

Place: The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway

Cost: $5 in advance; $7 at the door

Music by Red Deer Cave People, 314 On Main St., Astroknots, The Smoking Revolvers and Chase Aways.

Let's Talk Lupus

Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, May 28

Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center

More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

This interactive lupus panel discussion includes a rheumatologist, a social worker, a representative of the Lupus Foundation and a person living with lupus. A Q-and-A will follow the presentation. Registration is required for this free program and closes five days before the program date.

Caring for the Caregiver

Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, May 29

Place: The Cancer Center at Kish Hospital

More information: 815-748-2958 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

Share experiences with other caregivers and learn from them. Gain new insights, practical steps and effective coping strategies. Lunch is provided, and the program ends with a free massage. Registration for this free program is required and closes five days before the program date.

Think You Need a New Hip or Knee?

Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, May 29

Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center

More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

The coordinator of the Kish Joint Center talks about the experience of hip and knee joint replacement: who is a candidate, how to prepare, and what to expect in the hospital and after surgery. Meal and valet service provided. Registration is required for this free program and closes five days before the program date.

GENOA

Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Date: Wednesdays; next, May 15

Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care

A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.

DeKalb County Community Gardens, the Genoa Park District and the city of Genoa are partnering to turn a vacant lot into a community vegetable garden. Residents will be able to rent 5-by-10-foot raised plots for $25 a season to grow their own produce. Any plots not rented will be used by Community Gardens volunteers to grow produce for donation.

Line Dancing

Time: 7 – 11:30 p.m.

Date: Third Friday of every month; next, May 17

Place: Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St.

Cost: $5

Line dancing by dancers' request. Split floor for couple dances and line dances.

Blood Drive

Time: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Date: Saturday, May 18

Place: Genoa-Kingston fire station, 317 E. Railroad St.

What's In Your Spiritual Closet?

Time: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Date: Saturday, May 18

Place: Trinity Lutheran Church

Cost: $10, or $8 with donation of a baby blanket

RSVP: 815-784-2522

For girls sixth grade and up and women of all ages. The speaker will be Sharla Fritz, author of "Divine Design: 40 Days of Spiritual Makeover" and "Bless These Lips: 40 Days of Spiritual Transformation." Breakfast is provided. Donated baby blankets will be donated to the neonatal intensive care unit at Central DuPage Hospital.

Volunteers will build 50 raised garden beds in a vacant lot one block from downtown to be turned into a community garden. Volunteers are invited to bring tools if they have them, though some tools will be provided. Volunteers do not have to stay the entire time, but can come and go as their schedules allow. Needed tools include cordless drills, shovels, wheelbarrows and garden rakes.

The Kirkland Historical Society offers a reenactment of family history of those buried in the cemetery. Refreshments will be served.

SYCAMORE

Plant Sale

Time: 3:10 – 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. weekends

Dates: Through May 18

Place: Sycamore High School greenhouse

More information: 815-899-2160 ext. 2168 or kpoynter@syc427.org

The greenhouse is located on the south side of the school, near the buses.

Bingo

Time: Card sales start at 6 p.m.; play begins at 7:15

Date: Every Wednesday; next, May 15

Place: Sycamore Veterans Home, 121 S. California St.

Angie Carter Toddler Music

Time: 10 – 10:45 a.m.

Dates: Thursdays in May; next, May 16

Place: Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St.

More information: 815-895-2500 ext. 28

Have fun and learn new songs in this free class for children 3 and younger and their caregivers, led by music and developmental therapist Angie Carter. Older siblings up to age 5 are also welcome. No registration required.

Garden Story Time: 'Lovely Ladybugs'

Time: 10 a.m.

Date: Thursday, May 16

Place: Sycamore History Museum, 1730 N. Main St.

More information: 815-895-5762 or info@sycamorehistory.org

Story and craft time for children 3 to 6 (siblings welcome). Free; registration suggested.

May Flowers Luncheon

Time: Noon

Date: Thursday, May 16

Place: Blumen Gardens, 325 Edward St.

Cost: $9

RSVP: 815-762-5513

The DeKalb Christian Women's Connection luncheon will feature More Polish Pottery of Big Rock. Donna Sember will speak on "How to Have Peace of Mind in Difficult Times."

The Nikki Show

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 16

Place: The Art Attack, 215 W. Elm St.

Art sale, drawings, artists creating on-site and special art events throughout the evening. Donations and sale proceeds benefit the Nikki Fund, which provides scholarships for needy children to attend classes at The Art Attack and is named for late Art Attack Artist Co-op member Nicole Parlette.

A workshop for ages 8 to adult, learning fascinating facts about the birds of northern Illinois, building a bluebird house while learning about nesting behavior and making a bird call while learning to identify local birds by sight and song. Reservations recommended.

Lilac Luncheon

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Date: Saturday, May 18

Place: St. Mary's Memorial Hall, 244 Waterman St.

Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Children younger than 3 get in free.

More information: 815-793-1617 or kamilla23@comcast.net

Lunch, music, fashion show and shopping.

Gospel and Bluegrass Concert

Time: 5 – 10 p.m.

Date: Third Saturday of each month; next, May 18

Place: Sycamore Baptist Church, 302 Somonauk Street

More information: 815-895-2577

There will be an audience sing at 6 p.m. and acoustic bluegrass starting at 6:30 p.m. Musicians are invited to join throughout the evening. The concert is free; free-will donations are accepted.

Employment Network Services for Social Security Beneficiaries

Time: 5:15 p.m.

Date: Monday, May 20

Place: DeKalb County Community Foundation, 2600 DeKalb Ave.

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Orientation includes a tour of the house, explanation of the mission and description of volunteer opportunities.

Ingredients for Healthy Living: Spring Crops

Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 – 11:30 a.m. Thursday

Dates: May 22 and 23

Place: Hy-Vee Club Room

Cost: $10

More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

Learn about spring crops and how to use them. The same material will be presented at both sessions. Recipes and tastings provided. Registration is required and closes five days before the program date.

Sit With an Artist

Time: 5 – 8 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: Taxco restaurant, 223 W. State St.

Fae Lynch will talk about her work and demonstrate either tessellated paper or wax transfer art. D. Joerger will talk about her photography work.

Five Smart Investing Principles

Time: 6 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: DeKalb County Community Foundation, 2600 DeKalb Ave.

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Basic Estate Planning

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, May 23

Place: DeKalb County Community Foundation, 2600 DeKalb Ave.

Free presentation as part of Kishwaukee United Way's Smart with Money Week.

Blood Drive and Yard Sale

Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Date: Saturday, May 25

Place: Bill Cho's United Tae Kwon Do Center, 1598 DeKalb Ave.

Blood donors will receive a free $10 Target gift card.

WATERMAN

Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Date: Thursdays; next, May 16

Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care

A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.